Tray

ABSTRACT

For use in medical trays the filtering flat material ( 2 ) has to be such that no micro-organisms can penetrate through it. In order to arrange such a filter ( 1 ) for achieving closure of a tray&#39;s partial surface including through openings which ensures sterility, a closed sealing line, which surrounds the through openings, is formed in the area of each flat partial surface having through openings, along which two tray parts to be assembled and including co-operating clamping surfaces enable clamping the seal ( 3 ) of the filter ( 1 ). By the elasticity of the seal ( 3 ) sufficiently good closure is ensured even by small clamping pressure and even with not precisely plane clamping surfaces. The bond of the seal ( 3 ) to the filtering flat material ( 2 ) has the additional advantage that the filter ( 1 ) can also be arranged at a lower surface by pressing its seal ( 3 ) into a corresponding groove and does not loosen due to gravity.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tray.

When using medical implements which possibly might contact blood in aninvestigation or operation of a live body, these implements have to besterile up to their employment. After use they are cleaned and/ordesinfected, sterilised and stored. The resulting manipulation labourshould be as small as possible. From DE 196 27 044 A1, a tray is knownwhich can be inserted both into a washing device as a wash basket andinto a sterilisation device as a sterilising tray. Before sterilising,the tray is closed at top and bottom by an inserted filter. To this end,pieces of a steam permeable, germs retaining filter paper are insertedinto slots, and are optionally held by a clamping facility. Whentransporting the implements to washing, thermal desinfection and tosterilisation after use, the same need no longer to be taken by hand,but can remain within the tray. Now, it has turned out that insertion ofthe filters is awkward. In order to protect the filter againstmechanical influences, a covering element has to be put on in somecases. Moreover, in spite of the filter papers inserted, sterile storageof implements within the tray is not ensured, because complete closurearound the filter to the inner space of the tray cannot safely berealised.

Trays available on the market are known which comprise a perforated areain a central bottom region. Outside the perforated area, threaded boltsproject from the bottom of the tray into its receiving region at thecorner points of a rectangle. Filter paper is inserted between thethreaded bolts and covers the perforated area. Subsequently, aperforated metal sheet is laid upon the filter paper aligned with theperforation of the perforated area. The threaded bolts penetrate boresof the perforated metal sheet. Now, the perforated metal sheet can bepressed against the tray bottom by nuts on the threaded bolts. Bytightly clamping the filter paper, any exchange of a gas or steambetween the inner space of the tray and the environment can only beeffected through the filter paper. In this way, sterile storing withinthe tray is made possible. It has turned out, however, that theexpenditure for material, production and manipulation is very high dueto the additionally inserted perforated metal sheet and the awkwardmanner of fastening. In addition, this approach is limited to insertionof the filter paper from above onto a perforated area which is on bottomat least during insertion. This approach is not suited for a wash basketin accordance with DE 196 27 044 A1, because the implements had to beremoved after washing and before the filter paper could be inserted fromabove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention consists in providing a tray at which a flatperforated area can be closed by flat filter material with smallexpenditure in such a way that any exchange of gas and steam between theinner space of the tray and the environment can only be effected throughthe filter paper. Sterile storing within the tray should be ensured overan extend period of time.

Within the scope of the present invention, it has been recognised that aseal has to be connected to the flexible, flat filter material. Thisseal extends preferably in a marginal area of the flexible, flat filtermaterial along a closed line. The filter material has to be such that nomicro-organisms can penetrate it. In order to arrange such a filter forachieving a closure, which ensures sterility, on a partial surface ofthe tray having through holes, it is sufficient that a closed sealingline is formed around the through openings and to enable clamping theseal of the filter along the parts of the tray to be interconnected bymeans of co-operating clamping surfaces. By the elasticity of the seal asufficiently good closure is ensured even by small clamping pressure andeven with not precisely plane clamping surfaces. Any costly screwingdown a perforated plate can be omitted.

The connection of the seal and the flat filter material has theadditional advantage that the filter can also be arranged at the lowerside by pressing its seal into a groove and does not loosen due togravity from the lower side. After clamping the seal between theclamping surfaces, the seal prevents any micro-organisms from enteringthe inner space of the tray around the filter. Due to the possibility offastening the filter in a groove, a filter can be arranged, for example,at the inner side facing the bottom of a cover member which has aperforated area. The cover together with the filter is then put, forexample, onto the closed periphery of a wash basket so that the upperfront surface of the periphery presses against the seal of the filter.In this way, the inner space of the wash basket is accessible from aboveonly through the filter. The filter is protected against any damages bythe cover surface above. Analogously to the cover, a bottom having afilter inserted can be fastened to the lower front surface of the washbasket's periphery in such a way that the filter seal is clamped betweenbottom and periphery. In addition, cover and bottom may be formed asidentical closing members, thus, being exchangeable. In order not toobstruct the desired penetration of steam through the inserted filter,the arrangement of holes of the closing members and the wash basket areformed congruently one above another. For clamping the closing membersunder pressure, a clamping device is provided which acts by forceoptionally between cover and bottom, preferably, however, between onerespective closing member and the periphery.

The filter according to the invention having a seal fastened to theflexible, flat filter material can also be employed advantageously in atray which is used exclusively for sterilisation and, optionally, forsubsequent sterile storing. A simple construction of such asterilisation tray comprises a bottom and/or cover member having aperforated area, a peripheral region of a bottom and/or cover memberengaging it positively. By putting a filter according to the inventiononto the perforated area in such a way that its seal is pressed by aclosed periphery of the one part against a closed partial surfaceextending around the perforated area of the other part, sterile closurecan be ensured.

For producing the filter with a seal a linear closed seal is applied bya foaming appliance onto the flat material held by a device, which ispolymerised after application, thereby providing a bond with the flatmaterial. It would be also possible, having some more expenditure, toadhere a sealing ring onto the flat material. Optionally, the flatmaterial cut to the desired size before applying the seal. Preferably,however, the seal is applied to a ribbon of flat material. Severing theindividual filters is preferably done later. After applying the seal,preferably at least one temperature treatment is carried out incorrespondence with the sealing material applied. When using a siliconefoam, a first temperature treatment is carried out, for example, duringat least 3, particularly 5, minutes at at least 50° C., particularly,however, at substantially 60° C., and optionally a second temperaturetreatment during at least 10, particularly 20-30, minutes at at least120° C., particularly, however, at substantially 140° C. For medicalapplications preferably silicone foams are used, in particular thosewhich are suitable for food and/or admitted by the Health Department.

Foamed silicone seals have a temperature, moisture and pressureresistance needed for sterilisation. This means that they reassumesufficiently quickly the initial shape after sterilisation. Theymaintain the desired elasticity and shape even after passingsterilisation procedures several times. Even in cases where they do notprovide a tight closure because of some deformation due to temperatureor pressure during sterilisation, a tight closure is ensured at leastduring subsequent storage. Foamed seals have a great deformationcapacity and are, therefore, especially suitable for sealing clampingsurfaces of high tolerance with respect to plane joining together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures of the drawings explain the invention with reference tonon-limiting embodiments. Therein

FIG. 1a shows a plan view of a filter and seal,

FIG. 1b is a cross-section A—A according to FIG. 1a through a marginalportion of the filter,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a tray part (bottom or cover) having aperforated area and a groove extending around,

FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross-section of a wash basket,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a wash basket,

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section of a wash basket having closuremembers and filters put on it at bottom and at top,

FIG. 6 is a view of a closure member from above,

FIG. 7 is a view of a closure member seated on the wash basket'speriphery from below,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a tray's periphery and two closuremembers,

FIG. 9 is a side elevation (left side) and a vertical cross-section(right side) of a closure member without a locking bar,

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a locking bar of a closure member, and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a locking bar of a closure member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a filter 1 which comprises a filtering region of flexibleflat material 2 and at least one seal 3 extending along a closed line.The seal is secured to the flat material. In this way, an annular sealcould be glued on, for example. Preferably, however, the bond isestablished by foaming the seal directly onto the flat material 2. Inthis way, the viscous foaming material bonds to the flat material and toits fibres. During subsequent polymerising or curing the bond to theflat material and, of course, the shape of the seal 3 is fixed. The seal3 extends preferably along the margin of the flat material choosing arounded pattern at the comer regions.

According to FIG. 1b, the seal is preferably doughnut-shaped. Flat,ribbon-like seals would, however, also be possible.

FIG. 2 shows a tray part 4 having a perforated area 5 and a grooveextending around it. In order to shut the perforated area 5 off by afilter 1, the seal 3 of the filter 1 is pressed into the groove 6. Formaintaining the filter 1 in any position of the tray part 4, the groove6 is formed in correspondence with the seal 3. The tray part 4 with thefilter 1 inserted is assembled with another tray part in such a way thatthe seal 3 is situated between two co-operating clamping surfaces. Oneclamping surface is formed by the groove, and the other one by a frontsurface of the periphery.

FIG. 3 shows a wash basket 7 having a closed peripheral wall 8 which isshut off by a perforated metal sheet 9 within the region of the lowerfront surface. In the plan view according to FIG. 4, the regulararrangement of holes 10 and the slot-shaped through openings 11 can beseen. Apart from the circular holes, as shown, flattened or corneredholes are also possible. It goes without saying that the holes of theclosure elements and also of the bottom of the wash basket canpreferably be formed in an analogous way. Straps 12 are formed at theupper and lower peripheral edges and project from the peripheral wall 8of the wash basket 7 to the exterior. The serve for centring closuremembers to be put onto the peripheral front sides, on the one hand. Onthe other hand, the straps 12 of two opposite sides serve as engagementelements of a clamping device for fastening the closure members to thefront surfaces of the periphery 8.

FIG. 5 shows a wash basket 7 to which a closure member 13 having aperforated area 9′ is fastened each on top and below as a cover and abottom. A filter 1 having a filter surface 2 and a seal 3 inserted intoa groove 6 is provided on each perforated area 9′. The clamping devicecomprises, apart from the straps 12 of the wash basket 7, shiftablepieces 15, including ramp-like clamping surfaces 14, at two oppositesides of each closure member 13. The same are movably supported in sucha way that the clamping surfaces 14 are moveable along the straps 12 inorder to achieve a desired position of contact of each closure member 13on the peripheral wall 8. Upon locking motion of these shiftable pieces15, the closure member 13 is moved against the peripheral wall 8 by theclamping surfaces 14 in co-operation with the straps 12 so that the seal3 is firmly pressed between the front surface of the peripheral wall andthe groove's bottom of the groove 6.

According to FIG. 6, the closure members 13 include piling aids 16 a and16 b in the corner regions of their outer surfaces of which those of onediagonal are arranged within a contact line, those of the other diagonalare outside it. In this way, the outer surfaces of two closure members13 can engage each other in a substantially slip-free manner.Correspondingly, the trays according to FIG. 5 may be piled on oneanother. The piling aids 16 a, 16 b are formed in such a way that alayer-shaped free space remains open between the tray piled up andbetween the closure surfaces of the closure members 13 which face eachother. This free space enables air and steam to circulate between trayswhich are piled up. Consequently, such trays may be piled up andsterilised in sterilisers without any drawer ledge. In order tofacilitate storage of closure members 13, the closure members 13 areconstructed such that they can be piled on one another in the sameorientation.

The embodiment of the wash basket and the two identical closure members13 has the advantage that a solution is provided which comprises twodifferent tray parts only and two filters 1 and which enables the use ina cleaning device. and in a sterilising device as well as sterilestoring. The wash basket is preferably produced from steel, and theclosure members 13 from plastic.

FIG. 7 points schematically out that the sliders 15 are preferably usedalong opposite lateral surfaces of a closure member 13. The straps 12 ofall sides project against the peripheral surface of the closure member13 facing the interior for centring the closure member 13. The straps 12serve also as an enlargement of the bearing area for the seal 3, thuspreventing lateral jamming of the seal 3 between the peripheral wall 8and the 35 peripheral surface of the closure member 13 which faces theinterior.

FIG. 8 shows that handling ribs 17 for actuating the sliders 15 areaccessible from outside. The sliders 15, according to FIG. 9, areslidably located in recesses 18 and wall entrances 19. According toFIGS. 10 and 11, the clamping surfaces 14 are formed on clamping pieces20 projecting through the wall entrances 19 to the interior. Within acentral region of the slider 15, optionally a guiding piece 21 forlimiting the slider's movement is provided, and a corresponding guidingportion 22 is provided in the closure member.

In order to prevent that a tray containing sterilised instruments can beopened and closed again without being apparent, a safety device isprovided. This safety device can be formed in the sense of some leasingor sealing. Preferably a safety piece 23 to be torn away is insertedinto the recess 18 beside the slider 15. This safety piece 23 locks theslider 15 in clamping position. The safety piece 23 has to be removedbefore a closure member 13 can be taken off the wash basket 7. To thisend, a splice strap 24 is formed on the safety piece 23. The safetypiece 23 and its receiving portion in the closure member 13 arepreferably constructed in such a way that some change of the safetypiece 23 occurs upon removal which prevents inserting it anew. In thisway one can ensure that opening is apparent.

We claim:
 1. Tray comprising a wash basket (7) including a closedperipheral wall (8) and in a bottom area a wash part bottom (9) havingthrough-openings, and two mounting areas each for receiving a filter (1)of flexible flat material (2), wherein the filters (1) are located eachat a front surface of the peripheral wall (8), two closure members (13)covering the wash basket (7) at the top and at the bottom, and the frontsurfaces of the peripheral wall (8) together with the closure members(13) forming cooperating clamping surfaces, extending along closedsealing lines and enabling clamping a seal (3) and a filtering flatmaterial (2) in contact with the seal (3), wherein the closure members(13) include each an area with through-openings covered by the filteringflat material (2) and surrounded by the sealing line.
 2. Tray accordingto claim 1, wherein a groove (6) is formed at the closure members (13),or optionally at the wash basket (7), within a region of the sealingline wherein the seal (3), particularly a seal bond to the filteringflat material (2), is to be fixed in said groove (6).
 3. Tray accordingto claim 1, further comprising clamping means which enables pressing theclosure members against the corresponding front surface of theperipheral wall (8).
 4. Tray according to claim 1, wherein at least onesafety piece (23) is insertable enabling opening of the tray only afterremoval of the safety piece (23), wherein said safety piece (23) ischanged by removing which prevents inserting it anew.
 5. Tray accordingto claim 2, further comprising clamping means which enables pressing theclosure members against the corresponding front surface of theperipheral wall (8).
 6. Tray comprising a wash basket (7) including aclosed peripheral wall (8) and in a bottom area a wash part bottom (9)having through-openings, and two mounting areas each for receiving afilter (1) of flexible flat material (2), wherein the filters (1) arelocated each at a front surface of the peripheral wall (8), two closuremembers (13) covering the wash basket (7) at the top and at the bottom,and the front surfaces of the peripheral wall (8) together with theclosure members (13) forming cooperating clamping surfaces, extendingalong closed sealing lines and enabling clamping a seal (3) and afiltering flat material (2) in contact with the seal (3), wherein theclosure members (13) include each an area with through-openings coveredby the filtering flat material (2) and surrounded by the sealing line,the tray further comprising clamping means which enables pressing theclosure members against the corresponding front surface of theperipheral wall (8); and wherein the clamping means of the wash basket(7) and of each closure member (13) comprises cooperating engagementelements (12, 20), straps (12) projecting preferably from the peripheralwall (8) of the wash basket (7) to the exterior, and slider members (15)which include clamping surfaces (14) being movably supported such thatthe clamping surfaces (14) are movable along the straps (12) forachieving a desired contact position of the closure member (13) to theperipheral wall (8) and an elastic deformation of the filter seal (3).7. Tray comprising a wash basket (7) including a closed peripheral wall(8) and in a bottom area a wash part bottom (9) having through-openings,and two mounting areas each for receiving a filter (1) of flexible flatmaterial (2), wherein the filters (1) are located each at a frontsurface of the peripheral wall (8), two closure members (13) coveringthe wash basket (7) at the top and at the bottom, and the front surfacesof the peripheral wall (8) together with the closure members (13)forming cooperating clamping surfaces, extending along closed sealinglines and enabling clamping a seal (3) and a filtering flat material (2)in contact with the seal (3), wherein the closure members (13) includeeach an area with through-openings covered by the filtering flatmaterial (2) and surrounded by the sealing line, a groove (6) is formedat the closure members (13), or optionally at the wash basket (7),within a region of the sealing line wherein the seal (3), particularly aseal bond to the filtering flat material (2), is to be fixed in saidgroove (6), the tray further comprising clamping means which enablespressing the closure members against the corresponding front surface ofthe peripheral wall (8); and wherein the clamping means of the washbasket (7) and of each closure member (13) comprises cooperatingengagement elements (12, 20), straps (12) projecting preferably from theperipheral wall (8) of the wash basket (7) to the exterior, and slidermembers (15) which include clamping surfaces (14) being movablysupported such that the clamping surfaces (14) are movable along thestraps (12) for achieving a desired contact position of the closuremember (13) to the peripheral wall (8) and an elastic deformation of thefilter seal (3).